Stories from Early Islam — Page 26
26 God during the course of the day, even when their hands may be otherwise occupied, or when walking or riding. Fasting is another form of worship. A Fast means absten - tion from food and drink from dawn to sunset for the pleasure of God. The Islamic Fast is different from the Fasts prescribed in other religions. For example, Hindus and Christians are per- mitted to eat certain kinds of food during the period of their Fasts, while a Muslim does not eat or drink anything from dawn to sunset. This goes on for twenty nine or thirty days, throughout Ramadan, the month in which the Qur’an was first revealed to the Holy Prophet. Another form of worship is known as Zakat. It is a kind of religious tax imposed on certain types of possession and wealth. Muslims who possess for one complete year, cash or goods, beyond a minimum, pay Zakat according to a specified rate, which on the average, works out at 2 1/2% of the capital value of the form of wealth on which it is assessed. The proceeds of Zakat are distributed among the poorer sections of the com- munity, and other noble causes mentioned in the Holy Qur’an. Hajj or the Pilgrimage to Makkah is another form of Islamic worship. It is obligatory upon all Muslims who can afford the journey to perform Hajj at least once in their life-time. Millions of Muslims from all parts of the world gather at Makkah to per- form this worship every year, during the prescribed days. There are two Muslim festivals. One is called ‘Eid-ul-Fitr’, a festival at the end of the month of Fasting. Congregational